Animal device for collecting an animal&#39;s seminal fluid

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a device for sampling animal seminal liquid, notably boar seminal liquid, exhibiting at least one housing capable of accommodating a penis and a trigger for ejaculation. According to the invention, the ejaculation trigger includes a mechanism to subject the walls of the housing to pulses intended for stimulating the penis. The invention also concerns a facility for collecting an animal seminal liquid including such a device and also a usage thereof or of said facility for collecting boar seminal liquid.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention concerns a device for collecting animal seminalliquid, as well as a facility for collecting such a liquid, comprisingsuch device and a usage of said device and/or said facility forcollecting boar seminal liquid.

[0005] However, although more particularly suited for such applications,the invention could also be used for any other type of species, moreparticularly animal species.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Currently, boar semen is collected manually. Such an operation islong and tedious, the more so with such specie because the process maytake up to several minutes. Moreover, it raises hygiene problems.

[0007] For other species, mechanical devices have already been suggestedfor collecting seminal liquid. They remain nevertheless rudimentarysince they generally address animals whereof the ejaculation time isvery short, notably a few seconds, let alone a few fractions of a secondas is the case for rabbits, horses or bulls.

[0008] The object of this invention is to offer a device for collectinganimal seminal liquid, as well as a facility for collecting such aliquid, enabling to remedy the previous shortcomings and authorizingmechanized and automated intervention.

[0009] Another object of this invention is to offer a device forcollecting animal seminal liquid, as well as a facility for collectingsuch a liquid which authorizes interventions with high hygienic level.

[0010] Another object of this invention is to offer a device forcollecting animal seminal liquid, as well as a facility for collectingsuch a liquid, which enable to do away with the use of a heat-exchangingfluid heated to cause ejaculation, since heat is a spermicidal agent.

[0011] Another object of this invention is offer a device for collectinganimal seminal liquid, as well as a facility for collecting such aliquid, which may operate reliably and reproducibly over an extendedperiod of time.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, given only for exemplification purposes andwithout being limited thereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The invention relates first of all to a device for samplinganimal seminal liquid, notably boar seminal liquid, exhibiting at leastone housing capable of accommodating the penis and means to trigger theejaculation, characterized in that said ejaculation-triggering means arecomposed of means to subject the walls of said housing to pulsesintended for stimulating the penis.

[0014] The invention also concerns a facility for collecting an animalseminal liquid, notably boar seminal liquid, comprising such a device.

[0015] The invention also concerns a usage of the device and of thefacility described above for collecting boar seminal liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will be understood better when reading thefollowing description, accompanied by the appended drawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded p6rspective view of an exemplary device forcollecting seminal liquid according to the invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 illustrates such a device, once assembled,

[0019]FIG. 3 is a front view according to FIG. 2.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV represented onFIG. 3.

[0021]FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment variation of an element of FIG.4,

[0022]FIG. 6 is an embodiment example of the seminal liquid collectionfacility according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The invention concerns first of all a device for collectinganimal seminal liquid.

[0024] As illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 5, it comprises at least a housing1, capable of accommodating the penis, and means to trigger theejaculation.

[0025] According to the invention, said elements are composed of means 2to subject the walls of said housing 1 to pulses intended forstimulating the penis.

[0026] They are for example pulses controlled manually or automaticallyaccording to a chosen cycle, notably intended for simulating the uterinecontractions of the female.

[0027] One may choose, for exemplification purposes, to exert a firstpressure for the mating of the penis in the housing, then a constantpressure during mating, and then several sporadic pressures during thecollection to maintain the stimulation.

[0028] One obtains therefore a mechanized device, which may even beautomated.

[0029] Said housing 1 extends, for instance, longitudinally between anintroduction orifice 3 of the penis and an evacuation orifice 4 of theseminal liquid.

[0030] Said ejaculation-triggering means are then capable of causing asubstantially radial deformation of the walls of said housing 1, overtheir whole length, notably in the manner of sporadic pressures.

[0031] Said housing 1 emulates, for example, the shape of the vagina ofthe female of the corresponding specie.

[0032] As will appear more particularly on FIGS. 4 and 5, it may thenbe, notably substantially helicoidal in shape, suited to the penis ofthe boar.

[0033] In this sense, said housing is defined, for example, by a threestep helix. It is notably 60 to 80 mm in length, for instance about 65mm. Such a length enables the device to act upon the active portion ofthe penis of the boar, notably by letting its end protrude. It alsoenables to ensure good introduction of the penis and promotes thehandability of the device.

[0034] Said device is composed, for example, of a tubular flexiblemembrane 5, delineating internally said housing 1, and a rigid sheath 6,also tubular and receiving internally said membrane 5. Said membrane 5and said sheath 6 delineate together a sealed air chamber 7 and saiddevice comprises moreover means, not represented, to vary the pressureof the air in said chamber. In a manner known to the man of the art,they may be any pressurized air supply means. The result is then areliable and heavy-duty device.

[0035] The pressure applied in said chamber is, for example, homogeneousover its whole length.

[0036] So, advantageously, said means to subject the walls of saidhousing to pulses intended for stimulating the penis are provided,enabling localized stimulation thereof, notably close to its extremity.

[0037] Thus, the penis may be highly stimulated as of the applicationsof the first pressures and proper mating can be guaranteed.

[0038] As illustrated on FIG. 5, to enable such localized stimulation,said housing 1 exhibits locally a narrowed section, notably at theevacuation orifice 4 of the seminal liquid. Thus, although the pressureapplied in the chamber 7 is homogeneous, a pressure gradient may beobtained at the penis.

[0039] More accurately, said housing 1 exhibits for example a decreasingsection from said inlet orifice 3 to said evacuation orifice 4. Saidhousing is thus delineated notably by the volume described by a circlewhereof the center follows a helicoidal path along the longitudinal axisof the membrane, whereas said circle remains orthogonal to saidlongitudinal axis. Said circle also exhibits a decreasing radius fromsaid introduction orifice to said evacuation orifice. Said helicoidalpath may exhibit a constant radius or a radius decreasing from saidintroduction orifice to said evacuation orifice.

[0040] Such a shape, which delineates a truncated aperture, facilitatesthe penetration of the penis. Consequently, the outlet orifice willremain sufficiently large in order to prevent the penis from beingblocked.

[0041] Said housing may also be extended axially by a cylindricalportion delineated by an annular axial extension of the membrane 5, notrepresented, at either of its ends. Said device may also comprise meansfor pinching said extensions, intended for increased stimulation of thepenis.

[0042] Said membrane is composed, for instance, of a mixture of siliconand oil.

[0043] The flexibility of said membrane 5 enables to provide therequested deformations under the effect of the air injected into saidchamber 7.

[0044] Said sheath 6 is, for example, cylindrical. It is composednotably of a body 8 and of longitudinal ends 9, 10 of smallerthicknesses.

[0045] Said membrane 5 nests onto said sheath 6 at its longitudinal ends9, 10. To this end, it is fitted with an annular groove 11 situated atthe extreme poles 12, 13. The latter may cover said longitudinal ends 9,10 of the sheath, in order to confer homogeneous external aspect to thedevice.

[0046] Said membrane may be attached to the body using two flexibleclamps ensuring, with two coaxial lips provided on said membrane, ateach longitudinal end of said chamber, good tightness of said chamber.

[0047] Said membrane 5 exhibits, notably, a cylindrical external face 14delineating with the internal face 15 of the body of the sheath, saidchamber 7. Said membrane 5 and said sheath 6 may be coaxial.

[0048] As already evoked, the internal face of said membrane can beadapted according to the specie in question. As regards the externalface of the sheath, it can be fitted, at the body 8, with an airintroduction orifice 16 between said chamber 7.

[0049] Said flexible membrane 7 may be capable of being coated with aprotection film, more commonly called a single use condom. Thus, theinterventions will be more hygienic. Said condom is open at both itslongitudinal ends, whereas said ends can be folded up at thelongitudinal ends of the body 8 to attach said condom.

[0050] Said device can be fitted with a handling grip, for exampleattached to said body. Said grip will make the handling easier wheninserting the penis into the device. Said grip may integrate controlmeans to vary the pressure in the chamber 7, for example using two knobsto adapt the pressure cycle.

[0051] As illustrated on FIG. 6, the invention also concerns a facilityfor collecting animal seminal liquid comprising a device 17 for samplingsuch a liquid, as described above. With such a facility, the operatorneed not hold said device 17 any longer.

[0052] Said facility comprises, for instance, a reinforcement 18,notably tubular, intended for simulating the presence of the female,whereby the operator's interventions are then reduced to a minimum.

[0053] Said device 17 can be mounted mobile with respect to saidreinforcement 18. To this end, said reinforcement may be fitted with arail 19 and a carriage 20, mobile on said rail, whereas said device 17is supported at the carriage 20 by a framework 21, possibly orientable,notably freely, under the effect of the loads inflicted by the animal tothe device 17.

[0054] Said facility may also comprise a receptacle 22 to accommodatesaid seminal liquid and means for supporting said device 17, notablysaid framework 21, as tilted towards said receptacle 22. It may, forexample, a goblet, independent from said device. The seminal liquid maythen flow by gravity.

[0055] Said facility may also comprise a filter, not represented,between said device 17 and said receptacle 22.

[0056] Said reinforcement may be made tiltable using a system hingesattached to the ground, thereby facilitating its cleaning and itsdisinfection.

[0057] The invention finally concerns a usage of the device 17 and/or ofthe facility described above for collecting boar seminal liquid.

[0058] Other embodiments and/or other applications, understandable tothe man of the art, could also be contemplated, without departing fromthe framework of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A device for sampling animal seminal liquid, notably boarseminal liquid, exhibiting at least one housing (1) capable ofaccommodating the penis and means to trigger the ejaculation,characterized in that said ejaculation-triggering means are composed ofmeans (2) to subject the walls of said housing to pulses intended forstimulating the penis.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidhousing (1) extends longitudinally between an introduction orifice (3)of the penis and an evacuation orifice (4) of the seminal liquid.
 3. Adevice according to claim 2, wherein said ejaculation-triggering meansare then capable of causing a substantially radial deformation of thewalls of said housing (1), over their whole length,
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said housing (1) emulates the shape of avagina.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said housing (1) issubstantially helicoidal in shape.
 6. A device according to claim 1,composed of a tubular flexible membrane (5), delineating internally saidhousing (1), and a rigid sheath (6), also tubular and receivinginternally said membrane (5), whereas said membrane (5) and said sheath(6) delineate together a sealed air chamber (7) and said devicecomprises moreover means to vary the pressure of the air in said chamber(7).
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means to subject thewalls of said housing to pulses intended for stimulating the penis areprovided to enable localized stimulation thereof
 8. A device accordingto claim 7, wherein said housing exhibits locally a narrowed section toauthorize said localized stimulation of the penis.
 9. A device accordingto claim 6, wherein said flexible membrane (5) may be coated with aprotection film.
 10. A facility for collecting animal seminal liquid,notably boar seminal liquid, comprising a device (17) for sampling sucha liquid according to any of the previous claims.
 11. A facilityaccording to claim 10, comprising a reinforcement (18) with respect towhich said device (17) is mounted mobile.
 12. A facility according toclaim 10, comprising a receptacle (22) to accommodate said seminalliquid and means (21) for supporting said device (17) in a tiltedfashion towards said receptacle (22).
 13. A facility according to claim12, comprising a filter between said device (17) and said receptacle(22).
 14. A usage of the device according to claim 1 or of the facilityaccording to claim 10 for collecting boar seminal liquid.